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Yeta said: “It was very nerve-racking. I kept covering my eyes with a towel. I was caught between wanting to watch and not wanting to see him get hurt. I was trembling.”

A year later, Joshua won gold at London 2012. It was the first time his mum saw him fight in the flesh.

She said: “For Josh to become an Olympic champion is an incredible achievement.

"He has always been able to dedicate himself to whatever he wanted. I am very proud of what he has achieved.”

After his Olympic triumph, he shunned the spotlight in favour of a more humble life. He turned down £50,000 to turn professional straight away, preferring to bide his time.

Anthony Joshua celebrates with the belt after defeating Charles Martin in the IBF World Heavyweight title. (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

When the money did start to roll in, he bought his mum’s council flat in Golders Green, North London.

He still lives there with his social worker mum, despite buying a £500,000 penthouse in nearby Finchley for yoga instructor Nicole Osbourne, the mother of his son, Joseph, who was born in October 2015.

When at training camp, he lives off packed lunches of chicken, beef, pasta and boiled eggs in plastic boxes.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, says: “Avoiding prison was a big turning point for Anthony. He’s a bad guy trying to be good.

“Boxing has saved his life. It’s given him discipline, a focus for that huge physique.”